Dental Clinic Faces Wrongful Death Suit Over Virginia Child’s Death

A $5 million wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Virginia Commonwealth University by the mother of a 6-year-old boy who died after undergoing anesthesia for dental treatment. The lawsuit in Richmond Circuit Court, alleges the defendants "negligently diagnosed, treated and cared for Jacobi Isiah Hill, 6, who died soon after the procedure on May 11, 2010," the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Accounts of the boy's tragic death reveal something went badly wrong. He attended VCU's pediatric dental clinic to have caps, also known as crowns, put on several teeth. The suit alleges negligence against VCU Dental Faculty Practice Association, a dentist and two nurse anesthetists. It says they failed to diagnose the boy's conditions before surgery, including respiratory and cardiac factors.